Table grape

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of grapevine useful for production of table grapes superior to the Emperor variety in its higher and more consistent yields with short pruning systems, its earlier production of full color berries which are larger in size than Emperor and its ability to cold store for a long period in excellent condition.

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of grapevine of thevinifera species to be used as a late harvest table grape, withexceptionally large seeded berries and having excellent characteristicsfor long conservation in cold storage, with an attractive red color.

The new variety is the result of the following cross, L12-80×S45-48. Itwas selected from a progeny of 298 seedlings planted at the Sierra VistaRanch of the Di Giorgio Fruit Corporation, May 27, 1958. The new varietywas then asexually reproduced from cuttings taken from the originalseedling selection in Spring of 1964 at the Kearney Horticultural FieldStation, Parlier, Calif. The variety has been tested at regional trialsat the field station and at the University Vineyard, Davis, Calif.,under the number 10-23D and the unique features of the new variety havebeen retained.

The derivation of the parental varieties is as follows:

FIG. 1 is a drawing which illustrates a typical shoot tip of thisvariety.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a typical leaf of the new variety shown reducedfrom actual size.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of a typical cluster of the new variety.

The objectives in breeding this new variety were to obtain animprovement or addition to the Emperor class, the only red grape nowutilized in California for long conservation in cold storage, extendingthe marketing season until the end of March. The Emperor occasionallygives poor yields, the fruit does not obtain full red coloration and thepalatability is below average. Attractiveness of late storage grapes isalso enhanced by large berry size as they are often utilized for tabledecoration during the holiday season.

The new variety is well adapted to supplement the Emperor and is bestadapted for culture under the same type of soil and climatic conditions.It appears to be superior to Emperor in higher and consistent yieldswith short pruning systems, it produces full color earlier, has largerberry size and will also cold store for a long period in excellentcondition. Because of exceptionally large berry size, firm flesh, andeasy separation of the seeds, it can be sliced or diced for fruit salad.

The colors referred to in the following description under the headingPlant Characteristics are subject to substantial variation and are notconsidered distinctive or diagnostic features of the plant of thisinvention.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

The distinctive varietal characteristics of the novel plant describedbelow in detail were observed during the first fruiting season andthereafter in trial plots at Davis and Parlier, Calif.

Vine: Less vigorous than Emperor, with slender and straight trunk, canesmore numerous than Emperor, foliage canopy sparse, permitting uniformcoloring of fruit without leaf removal before harvest. Bud burst late,few days before Emperor, leaf-fall late, autumn coloration brightyellow.

Shoot Tip (10"-12"): Summit strongly incurved, yellow-green, tingedbronze, laterals weakly developed, glabrous, shiny. First flat leafthree-lobed, very shiny surface, lightly bronzed, tips shiny.

Shoot: Very slender, narrow striations with punctate markings, faintlycolored, light green, retains glossy appearance; tendrils very thin,wiry, bifid to trifid, bearing inflorescence at fifth node, occasionallya small additional one at node six; inflorescence very narrow with veryslender peduncle, some calyptras drying at bloomtime (indehiscent);flower with very small pistil, stamens diverging, filaments rigid.

Cane: Numerous canes, more open, good wood maturity, light brown, darkernear the nodes and exposed surfaces. Some striation noticeable, pithsmall, cross section round, buds small, pointed and sealed.

Leaf: Medium, blade length 17.1 cm., width 16.1 cm.; five-lobed majorlateral lobes with ribs arched inward so that three major lobes overlap,closing the very deep sinuses to eyelets, central lobe short, lessprominent than laterals, blade flat, smooth, retains some glossiness,glabrous; petiole 13.0 cm.; thin, 2 mm.; terminal teeth very large incontrast with lateral teeth, acute with very straight sides; inferiorsinuses well marked, narrow, sometimes closed; petiolar sinus wide, openU-shaped.

Cluster: Large to very large, average 1017 gm., 31.3 cm. overall lengthfrom point of attachment, width 15.0 cm.; peduncle very long and verythin in diameter, 4 cm. from attachment to first tendril branch, plus 5cm. to first branch of main rachis, usually straight and lignified(brown) about 1 cm. at base; well-filled to compact.

Berry: Very large, weight of 10 largest per cluster, 132.5 gm.;spherical to oblate, 29.6×26.9 mm.; skin surface somewhat fissured andblotched, thin and resistant; color strong purplish red 10RP 5/12 todeep purplish red 10RP 3/10 (Nickerson Color Fan); surface bloommoderate; skin rather thin but crack-resistant; brush very resistant todetachment, clear, broad, 4 mm×9 mm, round in cross section, vasculartraces deep red; flesh firm and meaty in texture, bleached or milky inappearance at full maturity with sweet, neutral flavor; expressed juiceis clear; chalaza small, shallow, crater-like; beak long, slender andtapered to sharp point, black-tipped at micropyle with remnant ofattached vascular tissue, folds shallow; seed when air dried slender, 4mm×9 mm, body triangular in cross-section; seeds large, 3 to 4 perberry, seed separate cleanly from the pulp, so berries can be easilysliced for salad; pedicel attachment to berry very strong, withexceptionally large and flanged torus, berry remaining intact and sealedfor very long periods of cold storage.

We claim:
 1. The new and distinct variety of table grape hereindescribed and illustrated and identified by the characteristicsenumerated above.